Goodness me, farewell 2020. I'd like to say it's been a blast but...

Merry new year to you all - thank you for the lovely reviews and encouraging words. I had a loooong break from writing and even switched fandoms but I can't tell you how good it's been to have writing this year - the ultimate distraction from the madness raging around us. I have never written so much! I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I've enjoyed writing?

Let's see what 2021's got in store for us...

Anyway, how might NYE go for Jean-Luc and Beverly? Let's find out shall we..?


The second she finished the shower she'd taken after a long and much-needed run, she was hit by the overwhelmingly delicious scent of roast lamb, rosemary, and garlic. She pulled on some fresh clothes, and tied her hair up out of her face. She wondered down stairs, intrigued as to how the replicator could mimic the smell of fresh home cooking so well... had he tweaked it in some way?

At the bottom of the stairs, she found the living room bathed in the warmth of candle light and the dulcet tones of some jazz musician she didn't recognise giving it their all on the trumpet.

"Jean-Luc?" she called out, more than puzzled now.

"In here, come through…" he called from the kitchen.

She opened the kitchen door to find him putting the finishing touches to the table. The centre of which was filled with candles, a decanter of red, and settings for two.

"You cooked?!"

"I cooked." He replied, putting the lamb down on the table then going to kiss her, "Water?"

She nodded her acceptance, "It looks amazing! Are you feeling okay? Not too tired?"

"I'm fine, a good day today. Anyway, I thought you deserved it.' he said, turning for the faucet to get her drink.

"Whatever for?"

He pulled out a chair for her and gave her the glass of water then took his own seat across from her, "Beverly…"

"Jean-Luc?" she replied coyley, teasing him.

"Beverly, firstly it is New Year's Eve – remember?" he said taking a sip of his own drink. "And secondly, most importantly, I wanted to thank you. The last few months…"

"Jean, you don't need to thank me…

"Oh I do… you've put up with me… I've done virtually nothing but sleep since Jendoken… you've been there for me, every single day. You deserve so much more. You work so hard, and I just hang around here, resting, sleeping. I don't know how you've put up with me."

"Well, I happen to like watching you sleep…" she whispered, a twinkle of delight in her eye. "Seriously, you don't need to worry. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be."

"It's too much for me to expect you to put your life on hold while I recuperate..."

She placed her glass on the table, unsure how to respond to what she thought he was getting at, "Now listen… you and I, we've waited a long time – too long. What I came to realise, after Jendoken, was that there was never going to be a right time… when you were away on SB3 I missed you so much. I realised then that when you recovered, I was going to somehow make this happen… and I didn't need to. Instead, it was you who took the leap and that's not putting your life on hold Jean… that's living."

"It is?" he replied, confused. She had somehow turned the conversation and what he had been trying to say had been lost somewhere in poor syntax.

She nodded, "Believe me, there were many times I thought you wouldn't make it… I had to resuscitate you - too many times, after Jendoken, and all the other times back on the Enterprise… more times than I care to count. And I guess I just finally got around to realising that being afraid didn't matter… all being afraid would do was keep me from you. It was never going to make the pain of losing you any less terrible… in for a penny I guess."

He wasn't sure how to phrase his words, she always did that to him, "I just want to be… want you to be sure."

"About what?"

"Sure that you're not here out of a misguided sense of duty?"

She had been mid-sip of her drink, enough to make her snort at the very thought. "Jean!" she said, rising to get a cloth to clean up.

"Here, allow me." He said standing. He needed to not be seated at the table, needed a physical task to focus on while his mind tried to work out what had just happened.

He mopped up her spilled drink then took the opportunity to start serving their food. He loaded her plate with vegetables, slices of perfectly cooked meat, then ladled the jus over the top.

"Is that what you really think?" she said, breaking his concentration for a second.

"Beverly…" he rumbled before gesturing to the decanter before pouring her a glass of wine.

"Yes please..." she paused, taking a sip. "Jean-Luc, I love you. I need you to know that I'm here because I want us to be together. I want to spend my life with you – forever. I am so sure of that fact that I cannot believe you would think otherwise." She paused, took a mouthful of lamb. Her eyes widened in surprise, "And besides, if you can cook like this and I am only just now discovering this fact… then what else have you got behind your back?" she finished, flirting with him.

"Well then, in that case… I want you to know that I love you too, incredibly so. Beverly… I want to be with you, always be with you. I just…" he didn't get the chance to finish his sentence. Beverly had rounded on him, perched on his lap, and was currently kissing him so hard that he wasn't sure where she ended and he began.

He returned the kiss, more than willingly, "Shall we take this upstairs?" he whispered breathlessly.

"I thought you'd never ask." She replied, taking his hand in hers and leading him up to the bedroom. "Happy new year."